Statement Regarding Boston’s Redistricting Process →

Community Statement Regarding Boston City Council’s 2023 Redistricting Process The Boston City Council passed a redistricting map.  In the view of civil rights and community groups — including the NAACP Boston Branch, MassVOTE, the Massachusetts Voter Table, the Chinese Progressive Association, La Colaborativa, and New England United for Justice (the “Coalition”) — this rushed and flawed process sends an...

Community Urges Adoption of Councilor Lara’s Redistricting Map →

Moving Boston Forward: Community Groups Urge City Council to Adopt Redistricting Map Proposed by Councilor Kendra Lara While Councilor Lara’s Map Preserves Years of Hard-Fought Progress Toward Voter Equity, Competing Proposals Undermine Civil Rights Gains A broad coalition of Boston community groups endorsed the Boston City Council redistricting map proposed...

Defending Voters of Color and Boston’s Redistricting Map →

NAACP AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TAKE LEGAL ACTION TO ENSURE THAT BOSTON’S REDISTRICTING MAP COMPLIES WITH VOTING RIGHTS ACT The NAACP Boston Branch, MassVOTE, the Massachusetts Voter Table, La Colaborativa, the Chinese Progressive Association, and New England United for Justice took legal action to ensure that Boston’s redistricting map complies with...

Community Inclusion Critical for Boston Redistricting Map →

Community Groups Urge Transparency, Public Participation, and Swift Action in Boston Redistricting  A broad coalition of community groups who have uplifted the voices of diverse communities in Boston’s redistricting process today called upon the City to act transparently and expeditiously to adopt a new City Council district map following a...

Supporting Boston’s New City Council District Map →

Civil Rights Groups File Brief in Federal Court Supporting Boston’s New City Council District Map Amicus Brief Reclaims the Civil Rights Mantle Seven community-based civil rights groups filed an amicus brief in the federal court case brought by opponents to the new Boston City Council district map. The brief, supporting...

LCR’s Civil Rights Summit →

LCR’s Civil Rights Summit November 4, 2022 Lawyers for Civil Rights held a Civil Rights Summit on November 4, 2022, convening powerful attorneys and community partners for strategic and catalytic thought partnership to advance civil rights in the current legal landscape, including changes in the composition of the Supreme Court....

Election Protection Across New England →

Lawyers for Civil Rights Protects the Vote Across New England “Election Protection” Efforts Underway as Voters Head to the Polls With our community partners, Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) is spearheading non-partisan Election Protection efforts in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. As people navigate election laws, we will ensure that all...

Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE →

Lawyers for Civil Rights runs the largest non-partisan Election Protection program in the country. For assistance on Election Day, please call our Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE.

Diverse Leadership in Lowell →

Candidates of Diverse Backgrounds Assume High-Profile Leadership Positions in Lowell First Election Cycle Follows a Federal Voting Rights Lawsuit against City A groundbreaking federal voting rights lawsuit filed by Lawyers for Civil Rights and Ropes & Gray against the City of Lowell, Massachusetts had a direct and significant impact on...

Representation Matters →

At Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR), we are proud of our work in partnership with community allies to protect voting rights and ensure diverse representation. As yesterday’s election results continue to roll in, we see encouraging signs across Massachusetts: After nearly 200 years of electing white men as Mayor, Boston has finally broken...

Black & Latino Voters Announce Settlement of Voting Rights Against Worcester, MA →

Black and Hispanic/Latino/a Voters Announce Settlement Of Voting Rights Case Against Worcester, MA The diverse coalition of Hispanic/Latino/a and Black voters that filed a groundbreaking federal voting rights lawsuit against the City of Worcester alleging that its method of electing its School Committee illegally dilutes the vote of communities of...

Massachusetts Redistricting Maps →

STATEMENT ON MASSACHUSETTS REDISTRICTING MAPS Today, the State Legislature released proposed redistricting maps identifying the reconfiguration of Massachusetts' Senate and House of Representatives districts. The proposed maps are encouraging. Senator William N. Brownsberger and Representative Frank A. Moran have clearly worked hard to incorporate community voices and perspectives, not to mention balancing a...

Summer Justice →

Injustice doesn't take a break during the summer. That's why our legal warriors have been busy fighting for equality and justice.   On the policing front, we're suing the Needham Police Department on behalf of Marvin Henry, a Black man who was arrested and falsely accused of shoplifting. We're also publicly calling for greater police transparency and fairness.In...

Minority Voters Demand Electoral Changes in Haverhill →

On the heels of several Massachusetts cities – including Lowell and Worcester – moving away from all “at-large” electoral systems for electing their city councils and school committees, minority voters in Haverhill are demanding a more democratic and representative electoral system. Led by the Latino Coalition, an organization whose mission is...

Victory! Worcester Will Change School Committee Elections →

Plaintiffs In Voting Rights Lawsuit Applaud Worcester’s Announcement That It Will Change Method Of Electing School Committee City Says It Won’t Fight Lawsuit, Which Alleges Current Electoral System Illegally Dilutes The Vote Of Communities of Color The diverse coalition of Plaintiffs in a federal voting rights case challenging the City...

Minority Population Growth Changes Electoral Districts →

Minority Population Growth Changes Five Majority-White Electoral Districts to Majority-Minority  Census Data May Confirm That Even More Majority-Minority Districts Are Viable A new analysis commissioned by Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) and conducted by Professor Maxwell Palmer of Boston University provides a preview of the opportunities that lie ahead to make representative...

Voting Rights Lawsuit Filed Against Worcester, MA →

Voting Rights Lawsuit Filed Against Worcester, MA A coalition of Black and Hispanic/Latino/a residents of Worcester today filed a federal voting rights lawsuit alleging that the City’s at-large system for electing School Committee members discriminates against communities of color. The plaintiffs also include community organizations Worcester Interfaith and the National...

Response to the White Supremacist Coup →

Statement in Response to the White Supremacist Coup Lawyers for Civil Rights Calls for Independent Investigation and Charges Against Lynch Mob January 7, 2020 At Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR), we want everyone to sit with the discomfort of the deadly white supremacist insurrection at the Capitol. We cannot let...